x, 413 p., [8] p. of plates : 24 cm

"The second half of the 20th century was a febrile time in theoretical physics. Quantum electrodynamics - the great achievement of the 1930s - was in trouble, yielding meaningless answers about the electron. How to resolve this 'infinity puzzle' and unify electromagnetism, the Weak Force, and the Strong Force? In this vivid account, Frank Close describes the personalities, the intense competition, the frustrations and sudden insights, and the high politics and vagaries of chance that led to the world's most expensive experiment."--P. [4] of cover

"With a new epilogue"--Cover

The point of infinity -- Shelter Island and QED -- Feynman, Schwinger,...and Tomonaga (and Dyson) -- Abdus Salam: a strong beginning -- Yang, Mills,...and Shaw -- The identity of John Ward -- The marriage of weak and electromagnetic forces--to 1964 -- Broken symmetries -- "The boson that has been named after me," a.k.a the Higgs Boson -- 1967: from Kibble to Salam and Weinberg -- "And now I introduce Mr. 't Hooft" -- B.J. and the cosmic quarks -- A comedy of errors -- Heavy light -- Warmly admired, richly deserved -- The big machine -- To infinity and beyond -- Epilogue: the bonfire of the infinities

Includes bibliographical references and index

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